Dispensing container closure

ABSTRACT

The rotary valve and cap assembly is a dispenser closure containing a small rotary valve which rotates automatically, when pressure increases in the dispenser. The valve remains closed as long as the container is not in use. If the container is squeezed, the increase in pressure causes the valve to rotate to opening position. When pressure in the container is released, the valve rotates back to its closing position, counter acted by a piece of yieldable material, for example, rubber. The dispenser closure is to be used on plastic containers, or any other type of dispensing container, that when squeezed can build up the necessary inner pressure for the valve to open.

United States Patent [191 Loredo DISPENSING CONTAINER CLOSURE [76] Inventor: Adolfo Arias Loredo, Calle 3ra,

#2-60, Panama, Panama 221 Filed: Aug. 10, 1973 21 Appl.No.:387,355

[52] US. Cl. 222/212; 222/491; 222/5l6 [51] Int. Cl 365d 37/00 [58] Field of Search 222/491, 494, 2l3, ZlZ, 222/496, 5l l, 520, 5l3, 516, 519

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,922.652 8/[933 Andersen 222/494 33063199 2/[967 Lykes 222/212 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l59,594 3/]933 Switzerland 222/49] 57 45() 7/1947 France 222/212 Apr. 8, 1975 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Assistant Evaminer-James M. Slattery Attorney, Agent. or FirmBurns, Doane, Sweckcr & Mathis [57] ABSTRACT The rotary valve and cap assembly is a dispenser closure containing a small rotary valve which rotates automatically. when pressure increases in the dispenser. The valve remains closed as long as the container is not in use. If the container is squeezed. the increase in pressure causes the valve to rotate to opening position. When pressure in the container is released, the valve rotates back to its closing position, counter acted by a piece of yieldable material, for example. rubber. The dispenser closure is to be used on plastic containers. or any other type of dispensing container. that when squeezed can build up the necessary inner pressure for the valve to open.

16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures DISPENSING CONTAINER CLOSURE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in Dispensing Container Closures.

The object of the rotary valve and cap assembly is to serve as a dispenser closure, with which it is possible to dispense substances by merely squeezing a plastic container to which the closure is attached. It would be unnecessary to unscrew caps or use caps with manually operated valves. This special dispenser closure opens automatically merely by squeezing the container and closes by releasing the pressure thereon.

The dispenser closure is composed of a rotary valve. a cap, and a piece of yieldable material, for example, rubber, which serves as a counteracting spring for the valve. The valve is designed to rotate and function inside the cap. It has an orifice passing through it radially, which acts as a conduit for whatever substance is dispensed. The valve rotates between two stops, having its orifice either open or closed. When the valve is closed, the orifice is blocked by the peripheral surface where it rotates. When the valve is open, the orifice is in alignment with the peripheral hole in the cap, and the passage clears for dispensing.

The valve may be made ofa suitable material, for example, plastic, in order to be light in weight, and rotate with little pressure. The cap enclosing the valve is also made of a suitable material, for example, plastic. The dispenser closure can be manufactured in all different sizes, according to the dispenser used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container showing the closure applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a disassembled perspective view of the parts of the closure;

FIG. 3 is a cross section through the closure on the line 3-3 in FIG. 1, with the rotary valve omitted;

FIG. 4 is a similar view on the line 44 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a similar view, with the valve in inverted dispensing position;

FIG. 6 is a cross section at right angles to FIG. 4 on the line 66 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the closure; and

FIG. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is shown for purpose of illustration as being usable with a container, generally indicated at 1, for either liquids or paste materials. Such containers usually are made of plastic and are often termed squeeze bottles." The sides are somewhat elastic and, when squeezed in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. I, the sides will be forced toward each other to discharge the contents therefrom, after which the sides will expand to their initial positions.

The container 1 is provided with a threaded neck 2 for application of a closure thereto to control the discharge of the contents from the container. The closure according to this invention is indicated generally at 3 and has a depending skirt portion 4 internally threaded in this embodiment to be secured upon the neck 2 of the container 1. Any suitable means may be provided as found desirable for connecting the closure to the container.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the closure 3 is made of two mating sections that may be fitted together and secured in complementary relation. The body of the closure can be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic, and the character of the sections should be such as to facilitate the assembly of the valve means within the body of the closure.

The closure 3 has a discharge opening 5 in the outer end thereof which opens to an internal cavity 6 within the body of the closure. The cavity 6 in this form of the invention has parallel opposite side walls and an arcuate outer circumference. Extending into one side of the cavity 6 is a bridge support 7 which has a concave seat 8 on its inner end portion, the end of which forms a stop 8' for the valve. These parts are in complementary relation on opposite sides of the cavity 6 in the two sections forming the closure 3 in the drawings. A seat 9 is shown at one end of the bridge support 7 opposite from the concave seat 8 and which also forms a second stop for the rotary valve 10.

A valve is provided in the cavity 6 having a body portion 10 with a hub or trunnion section 11 that may be formed in one integral piece with the valve body, if desired. The outer periphery of the valve body 10, indicated at 12, is complementary to the inner circumference of the cavity 6, conforming substantially thereto so as to permit freedom of swinging movement of the valve in the cavity and substantially in sealing relation to the periphery of the cavity. The hub or trunnion section 11 fits substantially in the seat 8 so as to provide a rocking support for the valve 10.

A spring device is shown at 13, such, for example, as a block of soft spongy rubber. This spring device 13 is interposed between the face 14 on one side of the valve body 10 and the seat 9, normally tending to swing the valve body 10 to the position shown in FIG. 4. In that position, the opposite face, indicated at 15, of the valve body is exposed to pressure from within the container, as will be apparent from FIG. 4.

A passageway 16 extends through the valve body and I through the hub or trunnion section 11 thereof substantially through the transverse axis of the trunnion section in position to be brought into registry with an opening 17 in the seat 8 and also aligning with the discharge opening 5 in the body of the closure, for discharge of the contents therethrough, as shown in FIG. 5. A sealing gasket is shown at 18 about the discharge opening 5 which may be used, if desired, or omitted if not required. This sealing gasket 18 is shown in FIG. 4 as fitted against a shoulder 19 formed around the opening 5 between the latter and the outer cylindrical face 12 on the valve body 10, being compressed by the valve body so as to effect a complete sealing thereof around the discharge opening and thus prevent the leakage of contents of the container about the cylindrical face of the valve body.

The parts of the closure can be made of any suitable material as found desirable according to the character of the contents of the container to be sealed and dispensed. For example, the spring device 13 and the gasket 18 may be made of soft rubber, effectively resilient. The remainder of the closure can be molded of plastic, as an example. The body of the closure can be made in complementary sections, as shown, or otherwise be made sectional in such manner as to allow assembly of the parts within the closure in conventional manner of assemling molded plastic parts, as will be well understood in the art. For example, a part of the wall may be separately molded to be reassembled after assembly, or the valve inserted through an opening in the body.

The closure can be made either as an integral part of the container or assembled thereon in any suitable or desired manner as, for example, by the screw threaded connection illustrated.

In use the contents of the container can be discharged merely upon compressing the opposite side portions of the container 1 in the manner illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 1. This action creates a pressure against the internal face 15 on the valve body 10, forcing the latter in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in FIG. 4, against the pressure of the spring device 13. This action continues until the passage 16 through the valve is in registry and alignment with the outlet opening and the opening 17 when the contents will be discharged from the container under the continued application of pressure against opposite sides of the plastic or elastic container, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The valve body will not move past the discharge opening 5, but the pressure from within the container will continue to be applied to the face so long as it is desired to continue the discharge of the contents from the container. Upon relaxing the pressure on the sides of the container, the air pressure will be reduced inside the container as the sides thereof expand, which thereby reduces the pressure on the face 15 of the valve and allows the spring device 13 to return the valve from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 4.

There should be sufficient opening for leading air into the container to expand the sides thereof and yet without allowing leakage of the contents. This may be accomplished in any suitable or desired way well understood in the art.

This closure, with its valve, has many advantages, including:

l The nature of the construction and the form of operation of the valve enables it to be moved easily for providing very effective sealing so as to prevent leakage of the substance inside of the container as, for example, since the valve surface upon which the substance applies pressure does not clear the outer opening of the cap. The valve can be made in different ways, permitting the pressure substance to be isolated at a prudent distance from the outer opening and isolated in a manner where it will be very difficult for it to have access to the outer opening of the cap, thus avoiding leaking out of the container.

2. The valve offers an effective control of the rate of flow desired for the specific substance dispensed.

3. The substance can be dispensed from the valve passage without touching or depending upon the shape of the discharge opening in the body.

4. The valve will operate very effectively as, for example, the valve can accurately and steadily hold any relative position with respect to the outer opening, in accordance with the pressure applied to the container.

5. Since the container substance moving the valve does not come into contact with the outer opening, then there is no sudden drop in pressure when the valve passage connects the outside of the dispenser with the inside of the container, but instead the drop in pressure is more gradual and can be controlled by varying the design of the valve passage or of the face of the valve upon which the pressure acts or of the opposed spring means.

6. The valve offers means for effectively controlling back pressure caused by the substance ejected from the container.

7. The cap can be manufactured very inexpensively.

While the invention has been illustrated and de' scribed in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing closure for a container, comprising a body having a cavity therein and having a discharge opening, and a rotary valve body having a hub integral with the body, means mounted in the cavity forming a journal for the hub and mounting the body for rotary movement to open and closed positions relative to the discharge opening, said valve body having an enclosed passageway within the confines thereof extending continuously through the body and adapted to be connected with the interior of the container in position to be moved into registry with the discharge opening when the valve body is in the open position and out of registry with the discharge opening closing the latter against discharge, said valve body having a pressure face in position for open access to the interior of the container to cause rotary movement of the valve body to open position.

2. A dispensing closure according to claim 1, including spring means on the opposite side of the discharge opening from the pressure face in all positions of the valve.

3. A dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the journal has an opening in position for registry with the passageway in the open position of the valve.

4. A dispensing closure according to claim 2, wherein the valve body has faces on opposite sides of the valve body spaced on opposite sides of the passageway there through, one of which forms the pressure face and the other has the spring means bearing thereagainst.

5. A dispensing closure according to claim 4, wherein the spring means comprises a block of resilient material.

6. A dispensing closure comprising a body adapted to be connected with a container for a substance, said body having a discharge passage for the substance and having a discharge opening, valve means for controlling discharge of the substance through said discharge opening, said valve means being movable to open and closed positions and including a valve member having a pressure face in position for action thereon of the substance to move the valve means to open position, said valve means forming a wall between the pressure face and the discharge passage to the discharge opening in a position substantially isolating the pressure face from the discharge opening when the valve means is in the open position.

7. A dispensing closure according to claim 6, wherein the pressure face is fully isolated when the valve means is in fully open position.

8. A dispensing closure according to claim 6, wherein the valve means has a passage therethrough for discharge of the substance through the discharge opening.

9. A dispensing closure according to claim 6, including yielding means opposing movement of the valve means to an open position.

10. A dispensing closure for a container for a substance, comprising a closure body having a discharge opening, a valve body mounted in the closure body for movement about an axis and having a passage therethrough for flow to the discharge opening, said valve body having a pressure face spaced circumferentially from the passage in position for action thereon to move the valve body to an open position, and yielding means opposing opening movement.

11. In a container having resilient sides, a discharge neck, and a closure body connected with the discharge neck, said body having a discharge opening, a rotary valve mounted in the closure body for swinging movement about an axis to open and closed positions with respect to the discharge opening, a discharge passageway connected with the rotary valve for connecting the interior of the container with the discharge opening in the open position of the valve, means acting against one side of the valve to move the same to closed position, and means on the opposite side of the rotary valve axis from the valve closing means and responsive to internal pressures in the container for moving the valve to open position.

12. A container according to claim ll, wherein the rotary valve has a face open to the internal pressure in the container in all positions of the valve for acting thereon of increase of internal pressure to move the valve to open position.

13. A container according to claim 11, wherein the respective means acting in opposite directions on the valve are on opposite sides of the discharge opening in all positions of the valve.

14. A dispensing closure comprising a body adapted to be connected with a container and having a passage for receiving material from the conatiner and with a discharge opening for the material, a valve for controlling the discharge of the material to the opening, said valve having a valve body with a trunnion section thereon, a bridge support in the body having a trunnion seat forming a journal for the trunnion section and sup porting the valve body for rotation about an axis coaxial with the trunnion seat, means forming a tubular passage through the valve body and trunnion section in position to register at one end with the discharge opening. means forming an opening in the trunnion seat in position to register with the opposite end of the tubular passage, means on one side of the valve body forming a pressure face in position for action thereon of the material to move the valve to a discharge position, and yieldable means acting on the valve body tending to move the latter out of discharge position.

15. A dispensing closure according to claim 14, wherein the tubular passage extends through the axis of turning movement of the valve body and radially thereof and of the trunnion section.

16. A dispensing closure according to claim 14, wherein the valve body and the trunnion section have arcuate peripheral surfaces on different radii and with the axis of turning movement coaxial of the trunnion section.

=1: a: a a: 

1. A dispensing closure for a container, comprising a body having a cavity therein and having a discharge opening, and a rotary valve body having a hub integral with the body, means mounted in the cavity forming a journal for the hub and mounting the body for rotary movement to open and closed positions relative to the discharge opening, said valve body having an enclosed passageway within the confines thereof extending continuously through the body and adapted to be connected with the interior of the container in position to be moved into registry with the discharge opening when the valve body is in the open position and out of registry with the discharge opening closing the latter against discharge, said valve body having a pressure face in position for open access to the interior of the container to cause rotary movement of the valve body to open position.
 2. A dispensing closure according to claim 1, including spring means on the opposite side of the discharge opening from the pressure face in all positions of the valve.
 3. A dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the journal has an opening in position for registry with the passageway in the open position of the valve.
 4. A dispensing closure according to claim 2, wherein the valve body has faces on opposite sides of the valve body spaced on opposite sides of the passageway therethrough, one of which forms the pressure face and the other has the spring means bearing thereagainst.
 5. A dispensing closure according to claim 4, wherein the spring means comprises a block of resilient material.
 6. A dispensing closure comprising a body adapted to be connected with a container for a substance, said body having a discharge passage for the substance and having a discharge opening, valve means for controlling discharge of the substance through said discharge opening, said valve means being movable to open and closed positions and including a valve member having a pressure face in position for action thereon of the substance to move the valve means to open position, said valve means forming a wall between the pressure face and the discharge passage to the discharge opening in a position substantially isolating the pressure face from the discharge opening when the valve means is in the open position.
 7. A dispensing closure according to claim 6, wherein the pressure face is fully isolated when the valve means is in fully open position.
 8. A dispensing closure according to claim 6, wherein the valve means has a passage therethrough for discharge of the substance through the discharge opening.
 9. A dispensing closure according to claim 6, including yielding means opposing movement of the valve means to an open position.
 10. A dispensing closure for a container for a substance, comprising a closure body having a discharge opening, a valve body mounted in the closure body for movement about an axis and having a passage therethrough for flow to the discharge opening, said valve body having a pressure face spaced circumferentially from the passage in position for action thereon to move the valve body to an open position, and yielding means opposing opening movement.
 11. In a container having resilient sides, a discharge neck, and a closure body connected with the discharge neck, said body having a discharge opening, a rotary valve mounted in the closure body for swinging movement about an axis to open and closed positions with respect to the discharge opening, a discharge passageway connected with the rotary valve for connecting the interior of the container with the discharge opening in the open position of the valve, means acting against one side of the valve to move the same to closed position, and means on the opposite side of the rotary valve axis from the valve closing means and responsive to internal pressures in the container for moving the valve to open position.
 12. A container according to claim 11, wherein the rotary valve has a face open to the internal pressure in the container in all positions of the valve for acting thereon of increase of internal pressure to move the valve to open position.
 13. A container according to claim 11, wherein the respective means acting in opposite directions on the valve are on opposite sides of the discharge opening in all positions of the valve.
 14. A dispensing closure comprising a body adapted to be connected with a container and having a passage for receiving material from the conatiner and with a discharge opening for the material, a valve for controlling the discharge of the material to the opening, said valve having a valve body with a trunnion section thereon, a bridge support in the body having a trunnion seat forming a journal for the trunnion section and supporting the valve body for rotation about an axis coaxial with the trunnion seat, means forming a tubular passage through the valve body and trunnion section in position to register at one end with the discharge opening, means forming an opening in the trunnion seat in position to register with the opposite end of the tubular passage, means on one side of the valve body forming a pressure face in position for action thereon of the material to move the valve to a discharge position, and yieldable means acting on the valve body tending to move the latter out of discharge position.
 15. A dispensing closure according to claim 14, wherein the tubular passage extends through the axis of turning movement of the valve body and radially thereof and of the trunnion section.
 16. A dispensing closure according to claim 14, wherein the valve body and the trunnion section have arcuate peripheral surfaces on different radii and with the axis of turning movement coaxial of the trunnion section. 